WALES Under-20s have hit their target of repeating last year’s trip to the Junior World Championship semi-finals – but boss Danny Wilson is hungry for more.
This evening the young guns, who won all three group games against Samoa, Scotland and Argentina, take on champions South Africa in Vannes for a place in Sunday’s final.
Last summer Wales finished third in the tournament and became the first team to beat New Zealand at Under-20 level with a famous 9-6 win in the group stages.
Wilson wants the 2013 vintage to go at least one better by making it into the final against either the Baby Blacks or England.
“We are pleased that we have achieved the goal we set out for ourselves at the start which was to reach the semis but we are far from finished,” said the ex-Dragons forwards coach.
“This is a game we can realistically win and reach the final. That would be a huge achievement but something we are targeting now.”
Standing in their way are the imposing figures of the Baby Blacks, who have beaten England, hosts France and the USA to make it to this stage.
Wilson says his young charges need to repeat their efforts against a bruising Pumas front eight if they are to be celebrating this evening.
“Our forward pack put a huge amount of work in against Argentina and will need to front up again against a physical set of South African forwards,” said the head coach.
“They are similar to their senior side in that they have a heavy pack but they also have an extremely dangerous back three which we will need to be wary of.”
Wilson has brought in Scarlets full-back Jordan Williams with Dragons ace Hallam Amos, scorer of a fantastic solo try against the young Pumas, moving to the left wing.
Rodney Parade teammates Jack Dixon and Ieuan Jones start at inside centre and number eight respectively while hooker Elliot Dee is on the bench.
Wales Under-20s: Jordan Williams (Scarlets), Ashley Evans (Ospreys), Steffan Hughes (Scarlets), Jack Dixon (Dragons), Hallam Amos (Dragons); Sam Davies (Ospreys), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets); Gareth Thomas (Scarlets), Ethan Lewis (Blues), Nicky Thomas (Ospreys), Carwyn Jones (Scarlets), Rhodri Hughes (Ospreys), Sion Bennett (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (captain, Blues), Ieuan Jones (Dragons). Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons ), Thomas Davies (Blues), Dan Suter (Ospreys), Jack Jones (Ospreys), Dan Thomas (Scarlets), Joshua Davies (Neath), Aaron Warren (Llandovery), Thomas Pascoe (Blues).
